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To discuss opportunities to strengthen the use of data on Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) surveillance, the International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) at Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has organized a meeting for stakeholders in Abuja.

Stakeholders like the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and other public health bodies participated in the two-day meeting which disseminated findings from the COVID-19 AEFI Surveillance Activities and Evaluation of the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS-2) for COVID-19 AEFI Reporting project.

Speaking at the event, IRCE Global Health Security Lead Mrs. Rita Okonkwo stated that, “In 2021, Nigeria rolled out safety surveillance for AEFI. Through funding and technical assistance from the US-CDC Global Immunization Division (US-CDC GID), IHVN strengthened AEFI surveillance activities in Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, and Kano States and the Federal Capital Territory.”

According to Mrs. Okonkwo, “in 2022 Nigeria rolled out the use of DHIS-2 for AEFI reporting and this was piloted for COVID-19 AEFI reporting between June 2022 and February 2023. In September 2023, additional funding through the Task Force for Global Health (TFGH) supported the evaluation of the performance of DHIS-2 on AEFI reporting.

Robust AEFI surveillance is the backbone of public trust during health emergencies. the project assessed Nigeria’s capacity to monitor and report vaccine-related adverse events using the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS-2) tracker. Through this project, IHVN is reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to global vaccine safety standards,” she said.

During project implementation, IHVN’s collaborative role with stakeholders, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was crucial in establishing systems like cohort event monitoring and training initiatives.

At the event, IRCE Project Lead AEFI Surveillance, Pharm. Victoria Etuk emphasized the importance of the findings for shaping vaccine safety strategies in Nigeria. “This evaluation, led by IRCE Executive Director,  Prof. Alash’le Abimiku, is about building a data-driven foundation for future immunisation safety,” she said.

She stressed IHVN’s efforts to address key barriers such as fear of reprisal among healthcare workers and underreporting at the sub-national level. Over 500 health workers were trained through the project, with a strong focus on demystifying the AEFI reporting process.

“We made it clear that reporting adverse events is not about punishment, it’s a professional obligation and vital for public health,” she noted.

IHVN also advocated for the harmonisation of AEFI reporting tools in line with global best practices, stressing the need for a unified platform to support timely and accurate data flow.

At the meeting, NPHCDA’s Deputy Director of Surveillance, Mr. Abdullazeez Yahaya, acknowledged the project’s contributions in revealing persistent gaps in AEFI reporting and stressed the need for ongoing training and political will at sub-national levels. He emphasized that healthcare workers must be empowered, not penalised, for reporting AEFI.

Director of Pharmacovigilance, NAFDAC, Dr. Uchenna Elemuwa, praised the collaborative efforts, in place for improving vaccine safety tracking. “IHVN has played a pivotal role in strengthening our ability to detect and respond to adverse reactions in real time,” she said.

Stakeholders at the meeting concluded with a commitment to scaling the initiative, reinforcing surveillance systems nationwide, and continuing to train frontline health workers.

About 50 data specialists, health researchers, clinicians and staff from non-governmental organizations have participated in a training on Public Health Data Analysis (PHDA) organized by the International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE) at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN).

The five-day training featured presentations and practical sessions on basic statistics and data exploration, probability and hypothesis testing, correlation and regression, epidemiological study design, and survey methods.

IRCE Data Unit Lead, Dr. Nifarta Andrew said that, the motivation behind this new course and its implementation is to enhance capacity in performing and interpreting analysis of public health data to address program and research gaps and inform health policy.

Facilitators were drawn from a team of biostatisticians and epidemiologists at IRCE in IHVN and affiliates of IRCE from the Tampere University in Finland.

Participants lauded the training as hands on and impactful. Ifeanyi Williams, a participant from Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) said that the training was phenomenal.

 “It was 100% value for money, I learned a lot and will recommend this because it teaches skills needed in the real world.”

Another participant, Dr. Abiodun Ifediola from Data Metrics Research Limited, noted that the training was well packed with top-notch delivery.

“The delivery is equal to what you’ll get anywhere in the world – I’ve gone to a lot of certification trainings outside of the country. As the Principal Investigator for a good number of evaluations in the country, I am responsible for coordinating data managers in the field. With the sessions on the first day, I was immediately able to import data and use the STATA platform,” she said.

Training Facilitator, Dr. Andrew revealed that plans are underway for another basic course this year and an advanced course to build on the skills learned during the introductory course.

To combat malaria and enhance maternal and child health, the Ondo State Government has officially unveiled the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) as the Non-State Actor (NSA) for the Immunization and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Malaria Project.

The unveiling ceremony, held in Akure, was presided over by Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Professor Simidele Odimayo. He emphasized the state’s commitment to transparency and excellence in selecting IHVN, aligning with Ondo State’s reputation for integrity and proactive health initiatives.

At the event, IHVN IMPACT Project Chief of Party, Dr. Temitope Kolade affirmed the Institute’s commitment to working closely with the state to achieve set targets. “We are working with local community-based organizations to ensure that we gain ownership and easy acceptance of the project in the state. We are also going to work with the existing community structures, the gatekeepers, ward development committees, and local government structures,” she noted.

Professor Odimayo highlighted the alarming global malaria statistics, noting that Nigeria accounts for 37% of the global malaria burden. He urged IHVN to collaborate closely with the state to alter this narrative by implementing effective strategies and ensuring measurable improvements in malaria indices.

 He stated, “At the end of the exercise, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa expects that the statistics must change in the state. We will be assessing you, and we want to be proud at the end of the project.”

The IMPACT Malaria Project is funded by the World Bank and aims to promote the use of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) among pregnant women and children under five. Other project goals include, strengthening case management skills of healthcare providers through Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) training and sensitizing communities on the use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp) and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC).

The Ondo State IMPACT Project Manager Dr. Folayan Abolaji, outlined the project’s goals, including reducing under-five mortality in the state by 40%, from 15 to less than 10 deaths per 1,000 live births. He emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating that previous surveys indicated excellent distribution of ITNs but poor utilization. “This program will see to it that while making provision for necessary interventions, commodities, and drugs, we engage civil society organizations and community based organizations that will propagate and increase the utilization of these services,” he said.

The Ondo State Government’s partnership with IHVN under the IMPACT Malaria Project represents a concerted effort to reduce malaria prevalence and improve maternal and child health outcomes, aligning with the broader goal of achieving a malaria-free Nigeria by 2030

To strengthen laboratory systems in the country, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) and the Medical Laboratory Services Division of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH &SW) have organized a two-day training and mentorship session for the leadership of  State Laboratory Technical Working Groups (SLTWG) in four states.

Trainees were drawn from the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, Bayelsa and Nasarawa states and participated in sessions which highlighted the role of SLTWG in strategic responses to public health emergencies. Mentoring sessions also stressed cross sector collaboration in laboratory governance, team building and effective leadership.

IHVN Program Manager Clinical Laboratory Services, Mrs Joy Shimang said that the training was aimed at empowering the leadership teams  to coordinate, lead effectively, and drive result-oriented activities of the groups.

Participants said the sessions were beneficial in supporting the growth of the technical working groups. Kano State Deputy Director Medical Laboratory Services, Mr. Hamza S. Fagge who participated in the training said that it has equipped him with the knowledge to address some teething challenges faced after the establishment of SLTWGs in the state.

Another participant, Nasarawa State Director Medical Laboratory Services, Mr. Stephen Ogoh added that , “the meeting was educative and insightful. I know that when I get back, we’ll be able to fine tune those areas that are challenging so that we will have a better State Laboratory Technical Working Group.”

The training was supported by the Resolve to Save Lives Project. The project has successfully established and supported the SLTWG in Bayelsa, FCT, Nasarawa, and Kano state respectively which is significant milestone in strengthening laboratory governance and coordination under the One Health framework.